“I proved to myself that I’m in the right place, and I deserve to be here in this tournament,” said Goffin, who will finish at a career-high No. 7, and has the Davis Cup final for Belgium ahead of him. “Then match after match, I took more confidence until the final. “So I’m proud of what I’ve achieved, even if I’m disappointed about the final.”

“I’m already in the Top 20 and I don’t have too many points to defend next season,” the Argentine said. “Could get close to the Top 10 guys. Could be a dream after all my problems with the wrist. To reach that ranking, that number again, would be fantastic for me.”

A field of floating mine traps for the top players includes (1) Zverev vs. the resurgent Troicki (winner to meet the Simon-Gulbis winner), (8) Tsonga vs. Khachanov, (4) Carreno Busta vs. a qualifier then the Fognini-Schwartzman winner, and (2) Thiem vs. the riser Rublev, then the Gasquet-Lopez winner…